Apparatus for automatically igniting flash-light powder



April 24, 1928; 1,667,368

- P. J. BAKKER APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY IGNITING FLASH LIGHT POWDER Filed Oct. 16, 1926 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 24, 1928.

P. J. BAKKER APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY IGNITING FLASH LIGHT POWDER gi'led Oct. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g I2111111111111!!!Inn/a5 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII @nvenl'for: alrflaw @akker Q 7111s afirng.

Qfnesses zanem Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'PIETER JAN BAKKER, OF AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY IGNIT ING'FLASH-LTGHT POWDER.

Application filed ctober 16, 1926, Serial No. 142,124; and. in the Netherlands May 5, 1926.

\Vith the existing arrangements used for the ignition of flash-light powder, whereby the powder is ignited either electrically or by means of a firestone, the following drawbacks-are experienced. In the first place it often happens that the device refuses to effectuate the ignition, and also there is considerable danger to the operator.

The present invention tries to overcome these difliculties. The same relates to a device the parts of which are arranged in such way that a proper functioning is assured under any circumstances and which will operate with perfect safety. 1

According to the present invention, an ignition unit, e. a match, is fixed in the apparatus at, the appropriate place required for the ignition of the flash-light powder.

I The feature of the invention resides in the following V The lighting of this fixed match is eitected by another match, mounted on a shiftablc sliding-part of the device, in such way that, whilst sliding with this part, this second match is streaked along an igniting surface,

lighted and after continuing its way is brought in contact with the fixed match.

, Thereafter this fixed match islighted and the flash-light-powder charge is ignited.

The second feature of this invention resides in the fact that during the igniting operation the shiftable ignition unit is successively brought in two positions prior to its being shifted along the ignition surface and whereby the first of these positions is used for fixlng the ignition units in the apparatus .whilst in the second position the apparatus is ready for use.

In the drawings two forms of execution of the arrangement are shown.

Fig. 1 is a top view.

Fig. 2 is a Vertical section through the line 1-1 of Fig. 1. T 1

Figs. 3 and 4 represent a longitudinal and a cross-section of another form of execution with the slide in Fig. 3 shown in partially operated position.

According in the Figs. 1 andQ, the apparatus consists of a wooden-frame 1. This frame may also be made of aluminium or of any other suitable metal. Along each of the two sides of this frame a groove 2 is providedin which a portion of a slide 8 is engaged so as to guide said slide in its longitudinal moveimnifi 11 der the influence of springs 1.

to the form of execution shown At-one end of the frame 1 a small metal table 5 is mounted. This table '5 has a turning side board'fi provided with wings 7,

mounted on'hinges. r

In the middle of the'table 5 there is a circular opening 8 communicatingat opposed points thereof with 11. The slot 11 ends in a sleeve 10. In this sleeve .10 and in the slot 11 a match 12 is fixed in such way that the head of this match projects into the circular opening 8 before mentioned.

Over this match the charge of flash-light powderis deposited on a sheet of paper or any other suitable material.

About in the middle of the apparatus,two fixed bearings 13 are provided, on which a holder 15can be mounted in such Way, as to permit this holder to turn on the bearings 13 by means of two pins 14. The bottom of said holder serves as an ignition surface whichis to be engaged by themovable ignition element and said holder is held in, proper position to be engaged by said ele? ment by means of four small springs attached to the frame 1 of the apparatus.

When appropriately fixed, this ignition surface (for which sidesof any matchbox may be used) is held in a slightly sloping position. f

In Figure 1 the slide 3 is shown in its normal position. In this position the springs 4: are stretched, but the slide 3 is locked in said position by a spring-controlled lock 17 projecting into a recess provided in the side thereby preventing the moveof the slide,

ment of said slide. By means of a rod 18 the lock 17 is connected with a lever 19 arranged alongside of the framel, whichlever -may be actnated'to withdraw the lock from its recess to release the slide.

In the middle of the slide 3 and on the top side thereof, a'holder 20 is provided. In this holder a screw 22 is arranged in such way that a match can be fixed in a vertical position for contact with the ignition surface of the holder 15.

Under the framel. a solid part 23 isarranged, proviledwith a screw head 24,.by

longitudinal slots 9 and means of which the apparatus can be fixed one standard. g h

Tothe'front part of this solid part 23 is fixed a bracket which is provided with two guiding. blocks 26. These guiding blocks have openings wherein a lock pin 27 is slid; able by means of a spr ng 28.

This lock pin 2? carries further a stoppin 29, transversely arranged in a hole in said lock-pin 27.

In the normal position the lock pin 27 is shifted upwards until the stop-pin 29 is resting against the upper guide block 26. hen in this position, the head ofthe lock-pin blocks the movement of the slide 3. The lock pin 27 is attached to a Bowden-wire 28, provided with a loose handle 29.

A metal wire 30 carrying a ring 31 is attached to the slide, for returning the same to thenorn'ial position above described.

The apparatus is operated as follows:

First of all the slide 3 is pulled to the normal position by means of the steelwire 30 and ring 81. In this posit-ion the slide is locked by the spring-operated lock 17.

Thereafter the. match 12 is fixed in the sleeve of the table '5 and a sheet of paper with the charge of flash-light powder is deposited on top of the match 12.

Next, the match 21 is put in the holder 20, and fixed therein by means of the screw-pin in such way that the head of said match lies about at the same height as the ignition surface arranged in the bottom of the holder 15.

If the lock 17 should accidentally be operated to release the slide 3 while the operator is still occupied with fixing the matches in the apparatus, ignition of the matches will be prevented owing to the fact that the safety lock-pin 27 is blocking the slide.

hen the matches are fixed and the apparatus is put in readiness on the standard, the slide 3 is unlocked by pushing the lever 19. Under the influence of the springs 4 the said slide 3 is shifted until it is stopped by the safety lock-pin 27. Preferably a gong 32 is provided, operated by a hammer 38, mounted on the slide 3. This hammer sounds the gong, when the above described shifting of. the slide into its first operated position is effected, signalling thereby that the apparatus is ready for use.

By pushing the handle 29, the wire of the Bowden-cable pulls the lock-pin 27 downwards and the slide is unlocked. Under the influence of the springsithe slide 3 shifts in the direction of the table 5.

Whilst shifting with the slide 3, the head of the match 21 engages along the ignition surface arranged on the bottom of the holders and the match is thereby ignited.

Thereafter the match 21, moves with its ignited head projecting through the slot 9 and arrives underneath the match 12 arranged in the said circular opening 8. I

The burning match 21 lights the match 12, and thereby the charge of flash-light powder is ignited.

In order to ensure the lighting of the match 12, the movement of the slide 3 is slowed down in the neighbourhood of the such way that the abutment 37 with the slide 3 may pass along.

By this arrangement-the slowing down of the slide 8 is effected and thereby a certain ignition of the match 12 and the charge of flash-light-powder is obtained.

i In the Figs. 3 and at another form of execution is shown, in longitudinal and cross-section.

In the apparatus, according to these figures, certain changes have been effected for the adaptation of same to use in the open air.

To this effect the frame 1 is formed as a closed box, one side of which can be removed by turning it on hinges, in order to enable eventual repair work to be 'done on the inside of the box. 2

The removable side of the box is kept closed by means of a book 01 attached to same, said book 51 cooperating with another hook 52 mounted in the frame 1.

The table 5, on which the flash-lightpowder is deposited, above the notch 12 is made in one piece with the frame 1 and is accessible by means of a cover 44, turning on hinges 45.

Springs are provided, for automatically opening the cover 14:, which, however, is kept closed by means of a hook 46. This hook is kept in position by the extremity of a lever 4-8, the other extremity of which is in the path of the slide 3.

VVhils-t the slide 3 is shifting under the influence of the springs 4, a projecting part 53 of the holder 15, will knock against the lever i r H) 48, shortly before the moment at which the already lighted match 21, will reach the match 12. Due to this the cover 44 is caused to open. shortly before the ignition of the flash-light powder-charge takes place;

ith this form of execution the holder 1:) having the ignition surface fi-l is movable around. a pivot \Vhen ready for use. this holder is kept in position by a small spring .10,, engageable in a recess of the holder 15. The ignition surface can be protected by an asbestos plate 53 arranged on the top of same.

The holder 15 ismovable about its pivot 39 from a position in the interior of the frame through a slot in one wall thereof by pulling on a pin 41-2 n'ojelcting from said position the locking-pin 17 engages in a recess, (not shown) in the bottom of the slide and adjacent the front edge thereof.

Upon release of the locking pin 17 from its recess the slide 3 is moved forwardly until the front edge thereof is abutting the looking-pin 27 as shown in Fig. 3.

lVith this form of execution the match 21 is put loosely in the holder 20 and is kept in position by two small springs 55-56.

The pin 27 is now released from engagement with the slide and during the subsequent forward movement of the slide the curved guiding surface 41 pushes the match 21 downwards and guides the head of the match on the ignition surface 54:.

After the, match 21 is ignited, the forward movement of the slide is retarded by its engagement with a leaf spring 49, and said movement is finally stopped by contact of the slide with a projection 50. In this position the match 21 is directly beneath the match 12 and ignites the same.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus'for automatically igniting flashlight powder, afirst ignition unit for igniting a flashlight powder, a second ignition unit for lighting said first unit, an igniting surface for said second unit,1neans for automatically shifting said second unit along said ignition surface in order to light said second unit, and means for moving said second unit, while burning, to a position adjacent said first unit to light the latter and thereby ignite the flashlight powder. i

'2. In an apparatus for automatically igniting flashlight powder in accordance with claim 1, and separate locking .means for retaining the shiftable ignition unit successively in two positions prior to its being shifted along the ignition surface.

3. In an apparatus for automatically igniting flashlight powder, a first ignition unit for igniting a flashlight powder, a second ignition unit for lighting said first ignition unit, asliding member for holding said second unit, an igniting surface for said second unit, means for automatically shifting said sliding member to move said second ignition unit along said igniting surface in order to light it and for moving said second ignition unit, while burning, to a position adjacent said first ignitionunit to li ht the same,

4. In an apparatus for automatically igniting flashlight powder, a first ignition unit for igniting a flashlight powder, a second ignition unit for lighting said first ignition unit, an igniting surface for said second unit, means for automatically shifting said second ignition unit along said igniting surface in order to light said second unit and for moving said second ignition unit, while burning, to a position adjacent said first unit, and means for retarding the movement of said second unit as the same approaches said first unit.

5. In an apparatus for automatically igniting flashlight powder, a first ignition unit for igniting a flashlight powder,'a second ignition unit for lighting said first ignition unit, an igniting surface for said second unit, means for automatically shifting said second ignition unit along said igniting surface in order to light said second unit and for moving said second, ignition unit, while burning, to a position adjacent said first unit, and a spring-controlledbraking element for retarding the movement of said second unit prior to the latter reaching a position contiguous to the first named unit.

6. In an apparatus for automatically ig- ,niting flashlight powder, first and second ignition units, the latterbeing movable and the former fixed, an ignition surface for the second unit, means for bringing the second unit successively in two positions prior to its being engaged with said ignition surface, a shiftable slide for carrying the second ignition unit, a tension spring attached to said slide for effecting the shifting motion, a lock-pin for locking said slide in the first of said two positions, and another lock-pin for locking said slide in its second position.

7. In an apparatus for automatically igniting flashlight powder, a table for receiving the flashlight powder charge having an opening in the surface thereof, means for 1 fixing an ignition unit under said table surface with the head of the ignition unit pro-p jecting into said opening, a shiftableslide carrying a second ignition unit, means for moving said slide toward the first named "unit, and means igniting said secondnnit' during said movement so'that said second 7 unit will ignite'the first unit upon reaching a position adjacent the same. r 8. In an apparatus for automatically ignitin flashlight powder; a table for receiving the flashlight powder charge having an opening in the surface thereof, means for fixing an ignition unit under said table sur face with the head of the ignition unit pro jecting into said opening, a shiftab'le slide carrying a, second ignition unit, ineans for moving said slide toward the first named unit, means igniting said second unit during said niovenient so that said second unit Will ignite the first unit upon reaching a position adjacent the same, and means for resiliently supporting the ignition means for- .said second unit; y

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

PIETER JAN BAKKER. 

